Dubai Blog - Day 3

The Ireland Sevens squad's video analyst Vinny Hammond has been keeping us up to date with news from the camp in Dubai. The squad paid their first visit to the Sevens stadium today and James Coughlan got a Dutch treat!

As expected, I woke up once again to twelve urine samples arriving at the door this morning from 7.30am onwards.

Once 'FOGS' (our fitness and conditioning coach Fergal O'Callaghan), had done the necessary, we got a quick breakfast and headed to our first session of the day at Dubai's new purpose built sevens venue, 'The Sevens.'

The stadium was quite impressive, and is expected to be sold out on all three days.

We had a full session on one of the back pitches and also had a look at the facilities available to us on matchdays, which include a players lounge area with bean bags and couches, a swimming pool and also a plunge pool.

The ground looked really impressive, with a huge amount of effort still going into the finishing touches.

Team captain Kieran Cambell tried to conduct an interview, but it was not long before the lads made sure the only thing you could hear was their finest singing voices.

After lunch, we were back on the road to another local school for our second session.

The Dutch ladies team were on the pitch when we arrived and took exception to James Coughlan walking across their grid.

James, in turn, took exception to the fact that they whistled him off, so a mini Irish-Dutch stand-off ensued!

This hasn't been James' only clanger of the trip...yesterday he alerted the staff at the aquarium in a frenzy, to a fish he belived to be stuck between two rocks.

Naturally, he was told that the fish in question was well capable of swimming out when he was done with the shade!

Our liaison officer, now known as Slick Rick, has been great in helping us out wherever he can.

This evening, he organised a trip to the Emirates Mall - apparently one of the biggest shopping malls in the world, complete with a 400 metre indoor ski slope and snow machines.

We had a wander around before heading back for an early night. Needless to say, with a shoping mall containing 14 separate exits, 670 shops and four stories, Kyle 'Sat Nav' Tonetti was again advised to hold the fort back at the hotel.

The countdown is on to the Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23. Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens & Women's Rugby, previews what promises to be an exciting couple of days.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Jenny Murphy talks about the progress made by the Ireland Women's Sevens team and their pool draw for the upcoming Women's Sevens Dublin tournament in UCD on August 22-23.

Tickets for the tournament start at 5 euro, with children free, and are available to buy here - http://www.ticketmaster.ie/Womens-Sevens-Series-tickets/artist/2134381?tm_link=artist_artistvenue_module.

Conor Murray and Tommy Bowe speak to Irish Rugby TV about their Rugby World Cup preparations and thank the thousands of supporters who came out to see the players at the open training session at the Sportsground.

Ireland captain Paul O'Connell gives his verdict on the team's new Rugby World Cup jersey and talks about his move to French club Toulon. Ireland's RWC 2015 range is available to pre-order now from http://shop.irishrugby.ie.

Anthony Eddy, IRFU Director of Rugby Sevens, talks about the target of a top three finish for both the Ireland Men and Women in Lisbon this weekend, as they continue on their quests for Olympic qualification.

Tom Daly, who recently captained the Ireland Men's Sevens team to the European Division C and B titles, is looking forward to playing in this weekend's Rugby Europe Olympic Repechage tournament in Lisbon, Portugal.

Ireland will host the 'Women's Sevens Dublin' at UCD on Saturday, August 22 and Sunday, August 23. Tournament director Garrett Tubridy and Ireland stars Lucy Mulhall, Jenny Murphy and Louise Galvin speak about their excitement ahead of the World Rugby Women's Sevens Series qualifier.

Coach Allen Clarke and stand-in captain Billy Holland answer questions from the media following Emerging Ireland's 45-12 victory over Georgia in the final round of their successful Tbilisi Cup campaign.

Emerging Ireland coach Allen Clarke speaks about his side's five-try 33-7 win over Uruguay in the Tbilisi Cup and the first half injury to captain Rhys Ruddock. They wrap up the tournament against hosts Georgia on Sunday.

Speaking about the floods that occurred following the Tbilisi Cup's first round, Emerging Ireland team manager Joey Miles said: "A natural event like that, a tragedy like that puts the game of rugby into perspective. We express our regrets to the Georgian people and the Georgian Union for the terrible tragedy that they had."

David O'Reilly from the IRFU Charitable Trust's Corporate Patrons Committee speaks about the new scheme which provides businesses with unique networking opportunities and provides a platform for companies to effectively activate their CSR programmes. For further information, please contact Linda Black of the Charitable Trust - telephone (01) 6473866 or email: linda.black@irfu.ie / http://www.irishrugby.ie/news/34728.php.